Tag: MainSlideNews

  • Rwanda’s first satellite launched to provide broadband internet to schools in remote areas

    The satellite was named ‘Icyerekezo ‘by the students from Nkombo Island (Groupe Secondairfe St Pierre Nkombo) which will be the first to benefit from the internet which will be brought by this satellite.

    Different satellites were launched including ‘Icyerekezo’in Guyane in South America and surveyed by France .the satellites were launched by the help of a rocket called Soyouz which was made by Russians.

    The ministry of ICT (Information and Technology) said that this is a great achievement our country has made since it is putting forth the use ICT mainly 4G LTE internet which is 96.6% of the country.

    The minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire highlighted that they are delighted to partner with One Web in this initiative which presents a huge opportunity to use satellite connectivity by using One Web’s constellation providing a low-latency and high –speed internet in schools of remote areas.

    The Chairman in the ministry of ICT and Innovation, Gordon Karema said that One Web is investors who allowed to ally with Rwanda due to its vision.

    “I would say that One Web Ltd is like our partner but the launching of ’Icyerekezo’ has brought friendship and good relationship .he added that supplying internet in those areas will start in June. One Web has a plan to be sending satellites every after 21 days sending 36 of them and when they are enough, the internet will start being supplied.” He said

    “It is 16km to reach Nkombo from the land which will be costly to reach their internet by using fiber optics. Trying to count, this can take like $2M which is so expensive .though students in Nkombo were given laptops, they still didn’t have access to the internet,” says Karema

    It is expected that this school will be given internet for free in a ten year’s period thus developing its education and helping the society to access IREMBO services.

    {{Schools to benefit from the move
    }}

    The Minister of education, Dr. Eugene Mutimura said that the partnership with One Web is a big chance to expand their activities so for the Internet to reach all schools of the country in the three years to come.

    The satellites will be launched every after 21 days until they are enough to supply internet so another satellite is awaited for in June being made in collaboration with Japan.

    “There are over 30 Rwandans studying about satellites in Japan and also others in Guyane and we are aiming much for Rwanda to step forward in ICT”.

    Chairperson of One Web Ltd, Greg Wyler said that accessing the internet in schools is a good way to enable people to use the internet in the line it aims to,

    “We appreciate the partnership with the government of Rwanda and Nkombo students. And this internet will help us reach our goals plus Rwanda to be a place of innovation in ICT.

  • Being air-linked washes away many transport challenges- Kagame

    The president who was officiating at the opening of the 4th Aviation Africa Summit in Kigali today at the Radisson Blu and Convention Center noted that Rwanda will continue investing in the aviation sector as one of the ways through which transport costs challenges shall be addressed.

    “Sixteen countries in Africa are landlocked, including Rwanda. That is almost one-third of Africa. But every country is “air-linked”. So geography should not be seen as an excuse for underdevelopment. This highlights the importance of regional integration, where there have been some notable achievements over the last year,” considered the president.

    Removing barriers on the movement of goods and people, he said, means there will be steadily increasing demand for commercial air services in the years ahead. To this effect, President Kagame said that Rwanda intends to continue investing in aviation infrastructure, including “growing our national carrier, RwandAir, and inaugurating a new state-of-the-art international airport in the near future.”

    He promised that the Aviation Africa Summit will continue to be the essential meeting point for industry and government as these transformational changes occur.

    The 4th Aviation Africa Summit brought together leaders across the civil and military aviation spectrum to discuss key issues that are driving change across the continent.

  • Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas wins stage four of 2019 Tour du Rwanda

    Mugisha Samuel, winner of 2018 Tour du Rwanda is the Rwandan on the front where he ended the race in the fourth position.

    {{Top five of stage four, Tour du Rwanda 2019
    }}

    1. Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas: 02h37’32”
    2. Pablo Torres Muino: 02h37’32”
    3. Sirak Tesfom: 02h37’35”
    4. Mugisha Samuel: 02h37’35”
    5. David Lozano Rabi: 02h37’40”

    {{The General Performance of Rwandan Cyclists
    }}

    10. Didier Munyaneza: 06’17”
    15. Areruya Joseph: 09’54”
    16. Valens Ndayisenga: 10’04”
    18. Manizabayo Erick: 10’23”
    25. Mugisha Samuel: 14’45”

    {{Best Performers Awarded
    }}

    The Skol jersey was given to the stage winner, Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas
    The Yellow jersey was given by Miniscop to Merhawi Kudus
    The Cogebanque jersey is awarded to the best hilly rider, Pablo Torres Muino
    The jersey for the rider with the highest sprint offered by SP was given to Du Plooy Rohan
    The jersey for the best competitor offered by Rwanda Tea was given to Mugisha Samuel
    The jersey for the best combater offered by Rwanda Air was given to Merhawi Kudus
    The jersey for the best youngest performing rider offered by Prime Insurance was given to Debesay Yakob
    The jersey for the best Rwandan rider, offered by RBA is held by Didier Munyaneza
    The jersey given to the best performing team offered by Inyange Industries was given to (Astana Pro Team)

    {{Stage Four of 2019 Tour du Rwanda [PICTORIAL]}}

    Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas awarded after winning the fourth stage of 2019 Tour du Rwanda

  • President Kagame castigates Huye local leaders over buildings closure

    He said this on Tuesday during his dialogue with residents of Huye district where he commented on an illogical decision made four years ago to close buildings in Cyarabu ward, leaving the place desolate and economically inert. District leaders closed the buildings after asking owners to revamp some and replace others with storied structures.

    This idea of building flats has failed to take off in the last four years as owners say they cannot afford storied buildings.

    The closure of buildings came at a time when some faculties at the University of Rwanda were relocated, cutting down on student population causing more losses to the business community.

    In 2018, it was decided to reopen the buildings and owners given a grace period of five years to erect a building that in tandem with Huye town master plan. houses thus letting people work.

    President Kagame said it was Huye’s maladministration that caused all this mess.

    The president asked local leaders how the decision for closing the buildings was reached without consulting the affected people.

    One of the owners of closed buildings said renovating the buildings is a good idea which would have been implemented after making wide consultations.

    President Kagame made a case for consultative and participatory decision making. “It is not a bad idea to renovate these houses but it would have been done after a consensual agreement. Instead, it was not discussed which brought about information gaps,” said President Kagame.

    “When leaders make decisions with the involvement of people concerned, it makes implementation easy,” added Kagame.

  • Eritrean Merhawi Kudus wins stage two of 2019 Tour du Rwanda

    He won the African championships in 2015, participated in Tour de France in 2015, Giro d’Italia in 2016 and La Vuelta an Espana in 2014, 2016 and 2018.at 18, Kudus participated in Tour du Rwanda 2012 and won its first stage.

    {{Top Ten of Stage Two of Tour du Rwanda 2019
    }}

    1. Merhawi Kudus (Astana Pro Team):03h02’17”
    2. Przemys? Aw kasperkiewicz (Delko Marseille Provence):03h02’19”
    3. Biniam Ghirmay Hailu (Eritrea):03h02’19”
    4. Areruya Joseph (Delko Marseille Provence):03h02’19”
    5. Rodrigo Contreras Pinzon (Astana Pro Team): 03h02’19”
    6. Hernan Ricardo Aguirre Calpa (InterPro Cycling Academy): 03h02’19
    7. Simon Guglielmi (France) 03h02’19”
    8. Mulu Hailemichael (Dimension Data): 03h02’19
    9. Mugisha Samuel (Dimension Data) :03h02’19
    10. Yuriy Natarov (Astana Pro Team):02H02’19

    {{Best Riders Awarded
    }}

    The Skol jersey was given to the stage One winner; Merhawi Kudus
    The Yellow jersey was given by Minispoc to Merhawi Kudus
    The Cogebanque jersey is awarded to the best hilly rider, Pablo Torres Muino
    The jersey for the rider with the highest sprint offered by SP was Timothy Rugg
    The jersey for the best youngest rider offered by Prime Insurance Ltd was awarded to Areruya Joseph
    The jersey for the best competitor offered by Rwanda Tea was given to Perrig Quemeneur
    The jersey for the top African at the front, offered by Rwanda Air was given to Merhawi Kudus
    The jersey for the nearest Rwandan, offered by RBA was awarded to (Areruya Joseph)
    The jersey for the best team offered by Inyange Industries was given to Astana Pro Team.

    {{Stage Two of 2019 Tour du Rwanda
    }}

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  • Gen. Kabarebe reminisces days as Army Chief of two armies

    Gen. Kabare who was giving a lecture to Rwandan youth last week under the theme: ‘Building from the foundations of our history” was responding to questions from the youth that had expressed a keen interest in understanding how one person could command armies of two countries concurrently.

    In 1996, the General related, Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo (AFDL) militants led by Laurent Désiré Kabila with the help of Rwanda Patriotic Army started a war to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko who had ruled the then Zaire for 30 years.

    RPA allied with Kabila’s AFDL to stop genocidaires that had committed atrocities in Rwanda during the1994 genocide against the Tutsi and were using Eastern DRC as a military base to create more incursions and instability against Rwanda government.

    After defeating Mobutu and Kabila became president, his army lacked military expertise and that is how Rwanda offered Gen. James Kabarebe to command the DRC army.

    Gen. Kaberebe took the youth through how and why Rwanda fell out with Laurent Desire Kabira and in-fights that ensued thereafter.

  • Premier Ngirente tours Eastern Province development projects

    The purpose of the visit was to assess how various governmental activities and programmes in education, health, agriculture, and industry sectors are being implemented.

    The visit kicked off at Kiziguro Hospital, where the Prime Minister toured different departments of the hospital and met some patients, met managers of the hospital and discussed how to fast-track completion of new buildings that will help the hospital to expand and upgrade its services.

    After visiting Kiziguro Hospital, the Premier visited a 12 Year Basic School at GS Nyagahandagaza in Kayonza District where he inspected classrooms, had a conversation with both pupils and their teachers and visited the school kitchen. He advised the school leaders on how to improve the quality of education.

    The next stopover was the University of Rwanda/Rukara College of Education. The Prime Minister toured different facilities of the college and was briefed on various challenges that the school is facing but also the strategies to overcome them. He also met the college staff and students.

    In his remarks, he commended the University of Rwanda for its effort to make Rukara College of Education a modern university. He assured them of the support of the Government of Rwanda to address the challenges that still prevent this University to achieve its mission.

    The Prime Minister visited Gishari Flower Park project which, in 2018, fetched $4 million and employs 550 staff and SteelRwa Factory in Rwamagana District to assess how Rwanda can recapture the domestic market and increase exports in steel products. He appreciated the achievements of the factory, encouraged its managers to increase production and reiterated the continued support of the Government of Rwanda.

    The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister concluded his visit in the Eastern Province, by touring the Rwamagana Industrial Park. He held deep discussions with the Province and District leaders on how this industrial park can contribute more to the development of the Rwandan economy.

    In this working visit, the Premier was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and State Minister in the Ministry of Health in charge of Public and Primary Healthcare.

  • President Kagame is not like other African Leaders- Gen. Kabarebe

    The General said this during a dialogue with the youth dubbed “Youth know your history” in Kimisagara and attracted over 600 Rwandan youth.

    Gen. Kabarebe told the youth that they should be grateful for their president who cares for all citizens and to learn from him on his leadership style.

    “When he is outside the country, he doesn’t speak on his behalf but on behalf of Rwanda. Indeed, not all leaders do so, most of them speak on their behalf planning to enrich themselves after their mandate is over, but Kagame is not that kind. He is an example that all of you should follow,” said Kabarebe.

    He further said that having a president like Paul Kagame is one of the greatest things that happened to Rwanda and that most of the developed countries of the world credit their development to good leadership.

    He added that Kagame is an honest president working towards unity and good cooperation with other countries.

    Last President Paul Kagame visited 28 countries including; Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, Switzerland, DRC, Belgium, America, Canada, Russia, Ghana, England, Kenya, Mauritanie, Djibouti, South Africa, Namibia, China, Armenia, France, Qatar, Argentina, Egypt, Austrich, Jordania and Ivory Coast.

  • Gahigi assumes office as Director General of Rwanda Meteorological Centre

    Semafara who has led the Rwanda Meteorological Centre (Meteo Rwanda) for the last 24 years has retired. His retirement request was approved by the Cabinet meeting held on January 28 this year which also appointed Aimable Gahigi as his successor.

    Speaking after handing over the office instruments to Gahigi, Semafara commended the Government of Rwanda for the trust conferred on him in climate data services and urged his successor to build on what was achieved before.

    “Meteo Rwanda has a main duty to timely share weather and climate information which helps different institutions in planning. You have all it takes to achieve goals you set,” Semafara said.

    Semafara urged the remaining staff members to help the Director General in delivering the best services to Rwandans.

    The incoming Director of Rwanda Meteorological Centre, Aimable Gahigi has pledged to improve the timely dissemination of weather related information and climate services to all sectors of the economy including agriculture, health, and energy among others.

    “It requires working hand in hand with every sector to know information they need and disseminate it to them on time. We will focus on working well with partners,” Gahigi said.

    The Minister of Environment, Dr. Vincent Biruta who chaired the handover ceremony said Meteo Rwanda has grown into a large institution and collaboration among staff will help it get to another level.

    Minister Biruta handed Semafara a certificate of appreciation and thanked him for his role in the growth of the Centre.

    “The outgoing Director General has had a big role in the growth of this Centre. He retired after serving the Government with commitment,” Biruta said.

    “We hope the new Director General will use his experience to build on what was achieved. You should know that all you do is for the service of Rwandans. We promise our full support in your work to help the citizens access weather related information,” Minister Biruta added.

    Semafara has been in meteorological services since 1972 while the incoming Director General Aimable Gahigi previously served as a researcher at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).

    John Ntaganda Semafara receiving the certificate of appreciation from the Minister of Environment, Dr. Vincent Biruta
    Aimable Gahigi, the new Director General of Rwanda Meteorological Centre
    The Minister of Environment, Dr. Vincent Biruta pledged to support the new Director of Meteo Rwanda to fulfill his duties
  • Africa’s natural resources are a waste unless invested in people- Kagame

    Kagame made the remarks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as he attended the Milken East and North Africa Summit that was organized by Milken Institute, a US-based Think Tank that publishes research and hosts conferences that apply market-based principles and financial innovations to social issues in the US and internationally.

    In a one on one conversation with Milken Institute’s Chairperson, Michael Milken, Kagame said Africa is rich in natural resources but poor looking at its portion of global GDP.

    “Africa is endowed with so much in terms of natural resources, the numbers are very clear. When you look at Africa’s portion of global GDP, it is very misleading when you also know what it is capable of,” Kagame said adding that the challenge has been how in the continent has always been how can Africa be so rich yet so poor at the same time.

    To get out of this history, Kagame said Africa has to first seek ways to stop depending on outside factors starting from the level of African Union.

    He gave as example the African Union institutional reforms which he was mandated to lead by his fellow African Heads of States. The reforms seek to make Africa a free trade market and see the African Union activities funded by its Member States.

    “At AU level, we started by saying if we held Africa together, tried the best we can and make these borders that divide 55 countries irrelevant, beginning with trade, free movement of people and goods across borders, we can transform our economies,” he said.

    Kagame said: “Leaders met in 2016 and we agreed we have to do reform because we can’t do business as usual, we have to change, beginning with how we conduct our affairs, including being able to finance the activity of the African Union.”

    “AU activities were being financed at more than 80% from outside yet 55 countries can contribute to making sure we can run our own affairs,” he explained.

    “We cannot work together without overcoming the challenge that we are so dependent on factors outside the continent. We have to build self-sufficiency and independence. This is what will take Africa where we should be,” he said.

    “Knowledge and technology are things that are beginning to be so well evenly distributed across the world,” he said, adding: “If our young people are educated and they have their health then they are able to do what anyone else can do. You find them in different parts of the world doing exactly what is needed in Africa.”

    “We need to invest in our people, even countries with natural resources, it will come to waste if they don’t invest in their people,” Kagame warned.